Clean Energy In Oman

Overview

Oman's National Energy Strategy identified that the country's power demands require a greater mix of energy contributors and that at least 10% of the country's power requirements should be capable of being derived from renewable energy sources by 2025. It is expected that the majority of the renewable energy will be onshore wind and solar projects, with the state controlled Petroleum Development Oman focusing on ensuring that renewable energy infrastructure projects gain traction during 2018 and beyond. There are a number of reasons for driving forward with solar and wind projects from the Government's perspective—greater competition, reducing Oman's carbon footprint and economic diversification are key catalysts. From a socio-economic perspective, the importance of sustaining the demands of a growing, energy hungry population are unavoidable.

Solar Power

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Oman's leading exploration and production company, has until very recently focused on the country's production of crude oil and supply of natural gas. PDO has made significant strides towards creating a sustainable renewable energy market through its support of a number of projects involving the installation of solar photo voltaic modules in existing concession areas. Energy from the photo voltaic modules is used to provide power for PDO's office buildings saving over 3.1 million cubic metres of gas annually. The cells provide enough electricity for approximately 1,000 homes. PDO is already using solar energy for street lighting and water heating in one of its employee housing developments and has recently completed the first block of the largest solar energy plant in the world (at full capacity) in southern Oman. The project involves using solar power (in place of natural gas) to create steam to use in thermal enhanced oil recovery.

In addition to issuing tenders for up to five 20 megawatt solar projects in Oman, PDO (soon to be renamed, Energy Development Oman) is proposing to work with Oman Power and Water Procurement Company on a solar project with an expected capacity of 500 megawatt.

Wind Power

Oman's commitment to clean energy can be further demonstrated through the recent creation of a joint venture between the Rural Areas Electricity Company and UAE based Masdar. The joint venture awarded an EPC contract to an international consortium to build the first large scale wind farm in South Oman on a 1,900 hectare site. The wind farm is...